Electronic device and method of controlling a display

ABSTRACT

A method includes entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an application image on a display. No information is displayed on the display during the low-power condition. While in the low-power condition, an input is detected. In response to detecting the input, a cover image is displayed. The application image is progressively revealed along with movement of a gesture while reducing display of the cover image, wherein the gesture controls a size of an area where the application image is displayed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/356,070, filed on Jan. 23, 2012,titled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A DISPLAY” and is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/746,753, filed on Jan. 22, 2013, titled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHODOF CONTROLLING A DISPLAY,” the contents of both applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, including but notlimited to, portable electronic devices having touch-sensitive displaysand their control.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gainedwidespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, forexample, telephonic, electronic messaging and other personal informationmanager (PIM) application functions. Portable electronic devicesinclude, for example, several types of mobile stations such as simplecellular telephones, smart phones, wireless personal digital assistants(PDAs), and laptop computers with wireless 802.11 or Bluetoothcapabilities.

Portable electronic devices such as PDAs or smart telephones aregenerally intended for handheld use and ease of portability. Smallerdevices are generally desirable for portability. A touch-sensitivedisplay, also known as a touchscreen display, is particularly useful onhandheld devices, which are small and have limited space for user inputand output. The information displayed on the touch-sensitive displaysmay be modified depending on the functions and operations beingperformed. With continued demand for decreased size of portableelectronic devices, touch-sensitive displays continue to decrease insize.

Improvements in devices with touch-sensitive displays are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device such as a portableelectronic device in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a portable electronic device in accordancewith the disclosure.

FIG. 3 through FIG. 7 illustrate examples of progressively displayinginformation from a low-power condition on a portable electronic devicein accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling atouch-sensitive display in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 9 through FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 through FIG. 25 illustrate examplesof progressively displaying information from a low-power condition on aportable electronic device in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an apparatus for and method of controlling adisplay. A gesture is detected while the display is in a low-powercondition also referred to as a sleep state. The device may or may notbe locked in the low-power condition. Informational icons to bedisplayed are identified, such as icons associated with notifications ofapplication information, such as email or text messaging, or deviceinformation, such as time or battery level. In one example, while thegesture continues to be detected, e.g., by a touch-sensitive display,the display is progressively illuminated while displaying the identifiedinformational icons. The process may be reversed, for example, bychanging the direction of the gesture or by releasing contact with thetouch-sensitive display.

A gesture includes a static or moving touch detected by atouch-sensitive display, a 3-dimensional (3D) spatial movement detectedby spatial sensors, a touch or 3D spatial movement detected by anoptical sensor, an audible input, including a voice command, detected bya speech or audible recognition device, depression of a physical key orbutton, and so forth. Other types of gestures may be successfullyutilized.

Although many examples described herein refer to a gesture detected by atouch-sensitive display, other methods of gesture detection may beutilized. For example, a gesture may be a generalized trajectorydescription characterized as a sequence of 3D points in time, and assuch many different sensors may be utilized to detect such a gesture.The gesture may be performed by moving a portable electronic device ormoving one or more body parts, such as fingers or thumbs as a 3D spatialgesture. For example, sensors, such as an accelerometer/gyroscope, orproximity sensors, or time-of-flight cameras may detect such gestures.Gesture recognition and detection techniques of this type are known.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may berepeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding ofthe examples described herein. The examples may be practiced withoutthese details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, andcomponents are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the examplesdescribed. The description is not to be considered as limited to thescope of the examples described herein.

The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device, such as aportable electronic device or non-portable electronic device. Examplesof portable electronic devices include mobile, or handheld, wirelesscommunication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, cellularsmart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants,wirelessly enabled notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile internetdevices, electronic navigation devices, and so forth. The portableelectronic device may be a portable electronic device without wirelesscommunication capabilities, such as handheld electronic games, digitalphotograph albums, digital cameras, media players, e-book readers, andso forth. Examples of non portable electronic devices include desktopcomputers, electronic white boards, smart boards utilized forcollaboration, built-in monitors or displays in furniture or appliances,and so forth.

A block diagram of an example of a portable electronic device 100 isshown in FIG. 1. The portable electronic device 100 includes multiplecomponents, such as a processor 102 that controls the overall operationof the portable electronic device 100. Communication functions,including data and voice communications, are performed through acommunication subsystem 104. Data received by the portable electronicdevice 100 is decompressed and decrypted by a decoder 106. Thecommunication subsystem 104 receives messages from and sends messages toa wireless network 150. The wireless network 150 may be any type ofwireless network, including, but not limited to, data wireless networks,voice wireless networks, and networks that support both voice and datacommunications. A power source 142, such as one or more rechargeablebatteries or a port to an external power supply, powers the portableelectronic device 100.

The processor 102 interacts with other components, such as Random AccessMemory (RAM) 108, memory 110, a display 112 optionally including atouch-sensitive overlay 114 operably coupled to an electronic controller116 that together comprise a touch-sensitive display 118, one or moreactuators 120, one or more force sensors 122, an auxiliary input/output(I/O) subsystem 124, a data port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130,short-range communications 132, and other device subsystems 134. Inputvia a graphical user interface is provided via the touch-sensitiveoverlay 114. The processor 102 interacts with the touch-sensitiveoverlay 114 via the electronic controller 116. Information, such astext, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may bedisplayed or rendered on a portable electronic device, is displayed onthe touch-sensitive display 118 via the processor 102. The display 112may be any suitable type of display, including a liquid crystal display(LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and so forth. Theprocessor 102 may interact with an one or more spatial sensors 136,including accelerometers or gyroscopes that may be utilized to detectdirection of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces,proximity sensors, optical sensors, and so forth.

To identify a subscriber for network access, the portable electronicdevice 100 may utilize a Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable UserIdentity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for communication with a network,such as the wireless network 150. Alternatively, user identificationinformation may be programmed into memory 110.

The portable electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 andsoftware programs, applications, or components 148 that are executed bythe processor 102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatablestore such as the memory 110. Additional applications or programs may beloaded onto the portable electronic device 100 through the wirelessnetwork 150, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, theshort-range communications subsystem 132, or any other suitablesubsystem 134.

A received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web pagedownload is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input tothe processor 102. The processor 102 processes the received signal foroutput to the display 112 and/or to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. Asubscriber may generate data items, for example e-mail messages, whichmay be transmitted over the wireless network 150 through thecommunication subsystem 104. For voice communications, the overalloperation of the portable electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker128 outputs audible information converted from electrical signals, andthe microphone 130 converts audible information into electrical signalsfor processing.

The touch-sensitive display 118 may be any suitable touch-sensitivedisplay, such as a capacitive, resistive, infrared, surface acousticwave (SAW) touch-sensitive display, strain gauge, optical imaging,dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition, and so forth,as known in the art. A capacitive touch-sensitive display includes acapacitive touch-sensitive overlay 114. The overlay 114 may be anassembly of multiple layers in a stack including, for example, asubstrate, a ground shield layer, a barrier layer, one or morecapacitive touch sensor layers separated by a substrate or otherbarrier, and a cover. The capacitive touch sensor layers may compriseany suitable material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO).

One or more touches, also known as touch contacts, touch events orgestures, may be detected by the touch-sensitive display 118. Theprocessor 102 may determine attributes of the touch, including alocation of a touch. Touch location data may include data for an area ofcontact or data for a single point of contact, such as a point at ornear a center of the area of contact. The location of a detected touchmay include x and y components, e.g., horizontal and verticalcomponents, respectively, with respect to one's view of thetouch-sensitive display 118. For example, the x location component maybe determined by a signal generated from one touch sensor, and the ylocation component may be determined by a signal generated from anothertouch sensor. A signal is provided to the controller 116 in response todetection of a touch. A touch may be detected from any suitable inputmember, such as a finger, thumb, appendage, or other objects, forexample, a stylus, pen, or other pointer, depending on the nature of thetouch-sensitive display 118. Multiple simultaneous touches may bedetected.

An accelerometer or gyroscope 136 may be utilized to detect 3D spatialgestures. A sequence of acceleration values may be detected in thedifferent spatial dimensions as a function of time and constitutetrajectory information that can be recognized as a gesture. For example,a quick flick or tilt of the portable electronic device 100 are examplesof detectable gestures. A 3D spatial gesture includes a continuousmovement, a sequence of movements, and a series of continuous movementsor sequences of movements. Proximity sensors, optical sensors, and/orcameras may be utilized to detect 3D spatial gestures comprising motionof objects spaced from the device 100. Scanning of any of these sensorsor devices may take place every 100 to 500 ms during low-power conditionor at any other suitable time period.

The actuator(s) 120 may be depressed or activated by applying sufficientforce to the touch-sensitive display 118 to overcome the actuation forceof the actuator 120. The actuator(s) 120 may be actuated by pressinganywhere on the touch-sensitive display 118. The actuator(s) 120 mayprovide input to the processor 102 when actuated. Actuation of theactuator(s) 120 may result in provision of tactile feedback. When forceis applied, the touch-sensitive display 118 is depressible, pivotable,and/or movable. Such a force may actuate the actuator(s) 120. Thetouch-sensitive display 118 may, for example, float with respect to thehousing of the portable electronic device, i.e., the touch-sensitivedisplay 118 may not be fastened to the housing. A mechanical dome switchactuator may be utilized. In this example, tactile feedback is providedwhen the dome collapses due to imparted force and when the dome returnsto the rest position after release of the switch. Alternatively, theactuator 120 may comprise one or more piezoelectric (piezo) devices thatprovide tactile feedback for the touch-sensitive display 118.

Optional force sensors 122 may be disposed in conjunction with thetouch-sensitive display 118 to determine or react to forces applied tothe touch-sensitive display 118. The force sensor 122 may be disposed inline with a piezo actuator 120. The force sensors 122 may beforce-sensitive resistors, strain gauges, piezoelectric orpiezoresistive devices, pressure sensors, quantum tunneling composites,force-sensitive switches, or other suitable devices. Force as utilizedthroughout the specification, including the claims, refers to forcemeasurements, estimates, and/or calculations, such as pressure,deformation, stress, strain, force density, force-area relationships,thrust, torque, and other effects that include force or relatedquantities. Optionally, force information related to a detected touchmay be utilized to select information, such as information associatedwith a location of a touch. For example, a touch that does not meet aforce threshold may highlight a selection option, whereas a touch thatmeets a force threshold may select or input that selection option.Selection options include, for example, displayed or virtual keys of akeyboard; selection boxes or windows, e.g., “cancel,” “delete,” or“unlock”; function buttons, such as play or stop on a music player; andso forth. Different magnitudes of force may be associated with differentfunctions or input. For example, a lesser force may result in panning,and a higher force may result in zooming.

A front view of a portable electronic device is shown in FIG. 2. Thetouch-sensitive display 118 includes a display area 202 in whichinformation may be displayed, and a non-display area 204 extendingaround the periphery of the display area. The display area 202 generallycorresponds to the area of the display 112. Information is not displayedin the non-display area 204 by the display 112, which non-display area204 is utilized to accommodate, for example, electronic traces orelectrical connections, adhesives or other sealants, and/or protectivecoatings around the edges of the display area. The non-display area 204may be referred to as an inactive area. The non-display area 204 istypically not part of the physical housing or frame 206 of theelectronic device. Typically, no pixels of the display 112 are in thenon-display area 204, thus no image can be displayed by the display 112in the non-display area 204. Optionally, a secondary display, not partof the primary display 112, may be disposed under the non-display area204. Touch sensors may be disposed in the non-display area 204, whichtouch sensors may be extended from the touch sensors in the display areaor distinct or separate touch sensors from the touch sensors in thedisplay area 202. A touch, including a gesture, may be associated withthe display area 202, the non-display area 204, or both areas. The touchsensors may extend across substantially the entire non-display area 204or may be disposed in only part of the non-display area 204. Touches maybe detected, for example, starting in the non-display area 204 andcontinuing into the display area 202 or starting in the display area 202and continuing into the non-display area 204, whether or not touchsensors are disposed in the non-display area 204. The portableelectronic device 100 optionally includes a set of convenience keys orbuttons 208, 908 that may be separate physical keys or buttons orvirtual keys or buttons. When the electronic device 100 is in alow-power condition, which may be referred to as a “sleep” condition orstate, no information is displayed on the touch-sensitive display.During a low-power condition, processes with the electronic device 100are discontinued or operated at a slower speed and one or more hardwarecomponents may be powered-down or operated at a slower speed to conservepower or provide other advantages.

An example of progressively illuminating a display while displayinginformational icons is shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 5. In this portraitorientation example, a gesture is initially detected at or near thebottom of the touch-sensitive display 118 and continues to be detectedalong the path of the arrow. When the gesture is detected at thelocation 302 in FIG. 3, a small area 306 at the bottom of the display118 is illuminated, and informational icons 304 related to devicecondition are displayed. The shape of the illuminated area may be ashape other than rectangular, such as the alternative curved area 308that is similar to or simulates a glow of a sunrise.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture moves upward, asshown in FIG. 4. When the gesture is detected at the location 402 inFIG. 4, a larger area 406 at the bottom of the display 118 isilluminated, which area 406 is larger than the area 306, andinformational icons 304 related to device condition are displayed inaddition to informational icons 404 related to applications, such asemail, text messaging, social networking, calendar, telephone, and soforth.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture continues to moveupward, as shown in FIG. 5. When the gesture is detected at the location502 in FIG. 5, a larger area 506 at the bottom of the display 118 isilluminated, which area 506 is larger than the area 406, andinformational icons 304 related to device condition are displayed inaddition to informational icons 404 related to applications. Moreinformational icons 404 related to applications are displayed in FIG. 5than in FIG. 4, illustrating that more informational icons are displayedas the gesture continues to be detected.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture reverses directionand continues downward to the location 602 shown in FIG. 6. The display118 is progressively dimmed in this example as long as the direction ofthe gesture continues in the reverse direction. Fewer informationalicons 404 are displayed in FIG. 6 than in FIG. 5, and the area ofillumination 606 is smaller in FIG. 6 than in FIG. 5.

Alternatively, the gesture may continue upward from the bottom of thedisplay until the gesture is detected at the touch location 702, whichresults in a gesture greater than or equal to a predetermined distanceor length as shown in FIG. 7. An unlock option 704 is displayed in awindow along with a keyboard 706 to facilitate entry of a password. Inthis example, the informational icons 304 related to device conditionare displayed, although informational icons 404 related to applicationsare no longer displayed.

A flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a display such as atouch-sensitive display is shown in FIG. 8. The method may be carriedout by software executed, for example, by the processor 102 of theelectronic device, which may be a portable electronic device 100. Codingof software for carrying out such a method is within the scope of aperson of ordinary skill in the art given the present description. Themethod may contain additional or fewer processes than shown and/ordescribed, and may be performed in a different order. Computer-readablecode executable by at least one processor of the electronic device toperform the method may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium,device, or apparatus, which may be a non-transitory or tangible storagemedium, device, or apparatus.

The portable electronic device is maintained 802 in a low-powercondition, for example, by displaying no information on the display 112of the touch-sensitive display 118, e.g., the display 112 is blank orblack with no pixels illuminated. For example, no background orwallpaper image is displayed. The processing activities of the device100 are typically significantly reduced during a low-power condition.Minimal touch sensing is active on the touch-sensitive display 118, suchthat power usage is minimal. For example, scanning of touch sensors maytake place every 100 to 500 ms or at a reduced rate from active touchsensing when in low-power condition. While the display112/touch-sensitive display 118/electronic device 100 is in low-powercondition, a gesture is detected 804 on the touch-sensitive display 118,which at least minimally wakes-up the device. The gesture may be asimple touch or a touch that moves. The gesture may be simple orcomplex. For example, the gesture may be a swipe that moves in a singledirection along the display or a touch that hovers or is maintained ator near the same location. Any other gesture may be utilized. Thegesture may begin anywhere on the touch-sensitive display 118, althoughadvantage may be gained, for example, by detecting a touch starting atany edge of the display, such as the bottom of the display or a cornerof the display. The gesture may be a series or sequence of taps on thetouch-sensitive display 118. The location of the taps may or may not berelevant to detecting the gesture.

Informational icons 304, 404 are identified and displayed 806.Identifying informational icons 304, 404 includes, for example,identifying at least one notification to be displayed. Notificationsinclude, for example, notice of a received email, notice of a textmessage, notice of a missed phone call, a calendar event, a socialnetworking notice, device condition, and so forth. Device conditionsinclude, for example, time of day, date, battery level, network signalstrength indication, error condition, software problem, and so forth.Informational icons 304, 404 that are associated with each notificationare identified and displayed, such as an envelope for email, a balloonfor a text message, a phone for a missed call, an open envelope for ameeting invitation, and so forth. All of the informational icons 304,404 identified at 806 may be displayed upon detection of the gesture.Alternatively, the informational icons 304, 404 may be progressively orgradually displayed while the gesture is continuously detected, e.g.,the quantity of informational icons 304, 404 increases, such as one at atime as the gesture continues 808. Alternatively, the informationalicons 304, 404 may be gradually displayed or revealed as the gesture iscontinuously detected. This effect may be achieved by progressivelydecreasing the transparency of the displayed informational icons 304,404, e.g., starting with a transparent or ghosted version of the iconand gradually increasing the opacity of the icon 304, 404 until theinformational icons 304, 404 are fully displayed. Transparency in thissense includes the visual effect of being able to see the backgroundthrough the icons 304, 404. Increasing the opacity of the icon 304, 404includes reducing the amount of background visible through the icon 304,404 until to the background cannot be seen through the icon 304, 404anymore.

While detection of the gesture continues 808, the touch-sensitivedisplay 118 is progressively illuminated 810 while displaying theidentified informational icons 304, 404, such as described above.Detection of the gesture continuing includes detecting a continuation ofthe gesture's movement along the touch-sensitive display 118 and/ordetecting a continuation of the gesture in time at or near a singlelocation on the touch-sensitive display 118, e.g., a successive tap withlittle or no movement of the gesture. The gesture may include acombination of movement and holding of a touch at or near one locationon the display 118. Progressively illuminating the display 118 may beperformed in a number of ways. For example, the touch-sensitive display118 may be illuminated beginning at the one end of the display andcontinuing toward an opposite end of the display, such as shown in theexamples in FIG. 3 through FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 through FIG. 13. A moreparticular example of progressively illuminating includes a sunriseeffect, where the touch-sensitive display 118 is first illuminated atthe bottom of the display 118 and gradually illuminated more and more ina direction toward the top of the display 118 in a similar manner as asunrise. The entire display may be fully lit at this point or optionallydimly lit, where continued detection of the gesture gradually increasesbrightness over most or all of the area of the touch-sensitive display118. Alternatively, an image may be displayed on the display 118, andthe brightness of the image may be gradually increased. Another form ofprogressively illuminating the display 118 comprises graduallyilluminating the touch-sensitive display 118 beginning at a point, suchas the center of the display 118 or the first detected touch location,and continuing to illuminate the display in at least one direction awayfrom the point, such as shown in FIG. 14, which shows gradualilluminating in a gradually increasing circle or radially outward in alldirections from a point on the display 118.

Optionally, when the duration of the gesture meets a predeterminedthreshold 812, such as a period of time or a distance or reaching alocation on the display, an unlock option or screen is displayed 814,such as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 13. At any time detection of the gestureends, the illumination of the touch-sensitive display is discontinued.This discontinuance of illumination may be effectively instantaneous orimmediate or may quickly fade to black, e.g., in 100 to 500 ms or less.

Another option includes progressively dimming the display 118 after thedisplay 118 is illuminated. For example, upon detection 816 of a changein direction of the gesture, illumination of the touch-sensitive display118 may be progressively reduced as the gesture continues. In a morespecific example, the gesture may comprise a touch beginning at thebottom of the display 118 and moving toward the top of the display,followed by moving back toward the bottom of the display 118, such aswhen the user sees all or as many of the informational icons 304, 404 asdesired. In this situation, the touch-sensitive display 118 is graduallyilluminated until the touch is detected moving back toward the bottom ofthe display 118, at which time the display 118 is progressively dimmed818 until the gesture ends (detection of the gesture does not continue),the display 118 fades to black, or the gesture changes direction againto progressively illuminate the display 118, in which case the processcontinues at 810. An end of the gesture may be discontinuation ofdetection of touch data on the touch-sensitive display 118,discontinuation of a recognizable 3D spatial gesture, or end of anyother type of gesture. The gesture may be discontinued, for example,when a user gathered the information the user is interested in, such astime, date, notifications, and so forth. An end of the gesture or whenthe gesture meets a predetermined criterion returns the device 100 tothe previous low-power or sleep condition.

Another example of progressively illuminating a display while displayinginformational icons is shown in FIG. 9 through FIG. 11. In thislandscape orientation example, a gesture is initially detected at ornear the bottom of the touch-sensitive display 118 and continues to bedetected along the path of the arrow. When the gesture is detected atthe location 902 in FIG. 9, a small area 906 at the bottom of thedisplay 118 is illuminated, and informational icons 304 related todevice condition and an informational icon 404 related to applicationare displayed.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture moves upward, asshown in FIG. 10. When the gesture is detected at the location 1002 inFIG. 10, a larger area 1006 at the bottom of the display 118 isilluminated, which area 1006 is larger than the area 906, andinformational icons 304 related to device condition are displayed inaddition to informational icons 404 related to applications. Moreinformational icons 304 related to device condition and informationalicons 404 related to applications are displayed in FIG. 10 than FIG. 9,as the gesture continues.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture continues to moveupward, as shown in FIG. 11. When the gesture is detected at thelocation 1102 in FIG. 11, a larger area 1106 at the bottom of thedisplay 118 is illuminated, which area 1106 is larger than the area1006, and informational icons 304 related to device condition aredisplayed in addition to informational icons 404 related toapplications. More informational icons 404 related to applications aredisplayed in FIG. 11 than in FIG. 10, illustrating that moreinformational icons are displayed as the gesture continues to bedetected. One advantage of the examples of FIG. 9 through FIG. 13 isthat the informational icons are displayed in the area where the displayis illuminated, thereby reducing power on an OLED display, because ablack OLED pixel consumes negligible power, or reducing the time neededfor a user to obtain information from the informational icons.

The gesture continues to be detected as the gesture reverses directionand continues downward to the location 1202 shown in FIG. 12. Thedisplay 118 is progressively dimmed in this example as long as thedirection of the gesture continues in the reverse direction. Fewerinformational icons 404 are displayed in FIG. 12 than in FIG. 11, andthe area of illumination 1206 is smaller in FIG. 6 than in FIG. 5.

Alternatively, the gesture may continue upward from the bottom of thedisplay until the gesture is detected at the touch location 1302, whichresults in a gesture greater than or equal to a predetermined distanceor length as shown in FIG. 13. An unlock option 1302 is displayed in awindow along with a keyboard 1304 to facilitate entry of a password. Inthis example, the informational icons 304 related to device conditionare displayed in a different location, although informational icons 404related to applications are no longer displayed.

An alternative option is shown in FIG. 14, in which the illuminated areaof the display 118 increases from a point, e.g., an origin 1402 of thegesture or the center of the display. As the gesture continues to bedetected, the illuminated area increases in diameter, for example thesmaller area 1406 occurs earlier in the gesture than the area 1408. Theinformational icons 304, 404 may be displayed all at once or increasingin number as the gesture continues to be detected.

Although more of the informational icons 304, 404 are displayed as thegesture continues in the above examples, such a gradual display of theinformational icons 304, 404 is not essential. For example, upon firstdetection of the gesture, all of the identified informational icons 304,404 may be displayed. Such display facilitates a quick and reversiblelook or peek at the informational icons 304, 404 without requiringcompletion or continuation of the gesture, and facilitates a quick viewof information followed by a quick return to a low-power condition orblank screen.

The above examples illustrate an upward and/or downward gesturebeginning at the bottom of the display as the device is oriented.Optionally, different gestures or gestures associates with differentedges or sides or corners may be utilized, including static ornon-moving gestures. The user may be provided with the option to selectthe type of gesture, location of gesture, and/or origin of gesture.

When utilizing a touch-sensitive display 118 to detect a gesture, thegesture may comprise a series of taps on the touch-sensitive display118. The detection of successive taps is detection of continuation ofthe gesture. A threshold time period may be applied to the detection ofthe sequence of taps. This series of taps may facilitate the gradualnature of modifying the visual display of informational icons. Forexample, a first tap may result in activating the display 112 at a firstbrightness level. A second tap may result in activating the display 112at a second brightness level, and a third tap may result in activatingthe display 112 at a third brightness level. The third brightness levelmay be comparable to the normal brightness level when the device is infull active mode. The number or quantity of taps may also affect thenumber of informational icons 304, 404 displayed. For example, one tapmay result in displaying the time icon 304, two taps may result indisplaying informational icons 404 related to applications, and threetaps may result in displaying all informational icons 304, 404.Alternatively, one tap may result in displaying informational icons 304related to device condition, two taps may result in displaying allinformational icons 304,404, and three taps may result in returning thedisplay 112 to the low-power condition. The taps may be detected on thedisplay or non-display area and need not be associated with a specificlocation or the same location. The number of taps may be applied to thebrightness level of the display, the quantity of informational icons304, 404 displayed, or both.

In another example utilizing a touch-sensitive display 118, the gesturemay comprise a hovering touch, which may include simply detectingpresence of a touch anywhere on the display 118. In one example,detection of motion or movement of the touch is unnecessary, anddetection of localized contact for a pre-determined period of time isregarded as a gesture. Differing periods of time may be correlated todifferent brightness levels. For example, a hovering touch exceeding afirst duration may result in activating the display 112 at a firstbrightness level. The hovering touch continuing and exceeding a secondduration may result in activating the display 112 at a second brightnesslevel, and the hovering touch continuing and exceeding a third durationmay result in activating the display 112 at a third brightness level.The third brightness level may be comparable to the normal brightnesslevel when the device is in full active mode. The different durationsmay be entered by a user. The duration of the hovering touch may also beapplied to the quantity of informational icons 304, 404 displayed. Theduration of the hovering touch may be applied to the brightness level ofthe display, the quantity of informational icons 304, 404 displayed, orboth.

Alternatively, the brightness levels may vary linearly as a function ofthe duration of the long press up to the level of the normal brightnesslevel when the device is in full active mode. This gradual effect from ablack screen until the gesture is no longer detected or normalbrightness level is reached.

In another example, one or more infrared sensors may be utilized todetect a simplistic but specific gesture. For example, one or moreinfrared sensors may detect a hand waving across the display at apredetermined distance.

The gesture may be a combination of gesture types or a compound gesture.For example, the gesture may initially comprise a 3D spatial gesture orvoice command that triggers initial wakening of the device 100 followedby a touch detected by the touch-sensitive display 118 as thecontinuation of the gesture, which causes gradual or progressive changein display of the informational icons 304, 404, gradual or progressivechange in the brightness of the display, or both.

In one example, the informational icons 304, 404 may all be displayedupon detection of a gesture during low-power condition, and the displaymay be gradually illuminated as the gesture continues, thus graduallywaking-up the device 100. Alternatively, the informational icons 304,404 may be gradually displayed in quantity and/or transparency as thegesture continues.

In one example, upon initial detection of the gesture at the location302 in FIG. 3, a first level of additional information is shown withinarea 306. For example, the time in another location/timezone may bedisplayed. As the gesture progresses to the location 402 in FIG. 4, asecond level of information is shown in addition to the first level ofinformation, within the illuminated area 406. For example, the weatherconditions for the other location may be displayed.

Priority levels may be associated with the informational icons 304, 404to control the order in which the informational icons are displayed whenrevealed gradually. For example, when multiple locations are ofinterest, prioritization of the information icons may be associated byimportance of the locations to the user.

A flowchart illustrating an example of another method of controlling adisplay such as a touch-sensitive display is shown in FIG. 15. Themethod may be carried out by software executed, for example, by theprocessor 102 of the electronic device, which may be a portableelectronic device 100. Coding of software for carrying out such a methodis within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art given thepresent description. The method may contain additional or fewerprocesses than shown and/or described, and may be performed in adifferent order. Computer-readable code executable by at least oneprocessor of the electronic device to perform the method may be storedin a computer-readable storage medium, device, or apparatus, which maybe a non-transitory or tangible storage medium, device, or apparatus.

An application image is displayed 1502 by an application while theapplication is running, e.g., being processed by the processor 102. Theapplication may be any application, including, but not limited to, anemail application, a calendar application, a contacts application, amedia application, a home page, an icon page, a web browser, or anyapplication that may be executed by the processor or otherwise run onthe electronic device 100. An application image includes any imagedisplayed by an application, such as an image that fills the displayarea 202, a page or window of information, and so forth. The applicationimage need not fill the display area 202. For example, the applicationimage may include an inbox for a messaging application, such as aunified inbox, a received email, an email compose window, a list ofupcoming calendar events, a list of most frequently accessed contacts, amedia control panel and/or identification of media being played, aplurality of icons, a webpage, and so forth.

The electronic device may operate in a low-power condition, such asdescribed above. The low-power condition may be entered and maintained1504, for example, after a time period where no activity is detected, inresponse to a gesture, such as a touch at a predetermined location or ina predetermined pattern, in response to a menu entry, and so forth. Theportable electronic device is maintained in a low-power condition, forexample, by displaying no information on the display 112 of thetouch-sensitive display 118, e.g., the display 112 is blank or blackwith no pixels illuminated. For example, no background or wallpaperimage is displayed. The display may be turned off, for example, byturning off the backlight of an LCD or changing the pixels to black onan OLED. The electronic device 100 may enter a low-power condition whileor after displaying an application image on a display.

The processing activities of the device 100 are typically significantlyreduced during a low-power condition. Minimal touch sensing is active onthe touch-sensitive display 118, such that power usage is minimal. Forexample, scanning of touch sensors may take place every 100 to 500 ms orat a reduced rate from active touch sensing when in low-power condition.While the display 112/touch-sensitive display 118/electronic device 100is in low-power condition, an input is detected, which input may be agesture detected on the touch-sensitive display 118, depression of aphysical key, detection of input by an optical input device, or otherinput. The gesture may include a hovering touch or encounter resistanceat the beginning of the gesture to avoid inadvertently awakening thedevice. In response to the input, the device at least minimallywakes-up. When a gesture is detected 1506, the process continues at1508. The gesture may be a simple touch, such as a touch that hovers ora single tap, or a touch that moves or changes touch location as thetouch continues. The gesture may include the input that awakened thedevice, or the gesture that wakes the device may continue to be detectedas the process continues. The gesture may be simple or complex. Forexample, the gesture may be a swipe or moving touch that moves in asingle direction along the display or a touch that hovers or ismaintained at or near the same location. Any other gesture may beutilized. The gesture may begin anywhere on the touch-sensitive display118, although advantage may be gained, for example, by detecting a touchstarting at any edge of the display, such as the bottom of the display,as perceived by a user, or a corner of the display. The gesture may bepart of a gesture that continues and provides additional functions, asdescribed below. The gesture may be a series or sequence of taps on thetouch-sensitive display 118. The location of the taps may or may not berelevant to detecting the gesture.

Informational icons 304, 404 are identified and displayed 1508 with acover image. The cover image may be simple or complicated. The coverimage may simply be a blank or black screen. Alternatively, the coverimage may be a blank or black screen with minimal information such astime, date, and so forth. For example, the cover image may include thetime, a date, a message, a design or pattern 1806 such as shown in FIG.18, a photo, one or more images previously stored on the device 100, anycombination of elements, and so forth. The cover image may cover theavailable display area and may be the same size or larger than theapplication image. Identifying informational icons 304, 404 includes,for example, identifying at least one notification to be displayed.Notifications include, for example, notice of a received email, noticeof a text message, notice of a missed phone call, a calendar event, asocial networking notice, device condition, and so forth. Deviceconditions include, for example, time of day, date, battery level,network signal strength indication, error condition, software problem,and so forth. Informational icons 304, 404 that are associated with eachnotification are identified and displayed, such as an envelope foremail, a balloon for a text message, a phone for a missed call, an openenvelope for a meeting invitation, and so forth. All of theinformational icons 304, 404 identified at 1508 may be displayed upondetection of the input or gesture. Alternatively, the informationalicons 304, 404 may be progressively or gradually displayed while thegesture is continuously detected, e.g., the quantity of informationalicons 304, 404 increases, such as one at a time as the gesture continues1510. Alternatively, the informational icons 304, 404 may be graduallydisplayed or revealed as the gesture is continuously detected. Thiseffect may be achieved by progressively decreasing the transparency ofthe displayed informational icons 304, 404, e.g., starting with atransparent or ghosted version of the icon and gradually increasing theopacity of the icon 304, 404 until the informational icons 304, 404 arefully displayed. Transparency in this sense includes the visual effectof being able to see the background through the icons 304, 404.Increasing the opacity of the icon 304, 404 includes reducing the amountof background visible through the icon 304, 404 until to the backgroundcannot be seen through the icon 304, 404 anymore. Transparency oropacity is a visual effect that may be implemented on a pixel by pixelbasis such that the pixels are manipulated to appear as though one imageis overlaying another image or is, to a lesser or greater extent,visible compared to the other.

While detection of the gesture continues 1510, and a gesture thresholdis not met 1512, an application image is progressively revealed 1514while displaying the cover image and optionally the identifiedinformational icons 304, 404, such as described above. Detection of thegesture continuing includes detecting a continuation of the gesture'smovement along the touch-sensitive display 118 and/or detecting acontinuation of the gesture in time at or near a single location on thetouch-sensitive display 118, e.g., a successive tap with little or nomovement of the gesture. The gesture may include a combination ofmovement and holding of a touch at or near one location on the display118. The application image that is progressively revealed may be thesame image that was displayed when the low-power condition was entered,e.g., the application image displayed immediately before entering thelow-power condition. Alternatively, the application image may be anotherapplication image, such as an inbox, such as a universal or unifiedinbox; a last received message, such as a message received within apredetermined period of time of detecting the gesture 1506; anapplication image selected by a user, such as through a menu; and soforth. The application image may be one of a plurality of differentapplication images depending on the circumstances, such as a lastreceived message if received within a predetermined period of time ofdetecting the gesture 1506, otherwise the application image displayedimmediately before entering the low-power condition is displayed.Alternatively, the application image may be an image displayed onlyafter entering a low-power condition. The image may comprise informationthat may be useful during the revealing process, such as the entries ofa messaging inbox that may be revealed chronologically beginning withthe last received message, and thus may comprise at least part of aninbox that may be displayed upside-down so that the latest informationis revealed first when the gesture begins at the bottom of the display.The application image may be shown during the revealing, and once thedevice is fully awakened, display of the application image maydiscontinue, after which the device may revert to the last applicationopen on the display when the low-power condition was entered.

Progressively revealing the application image may be performed in anumber of ways. For example, the application image may be revealedbeginning at the one end of the application image or display 112 andcontinuing toward an opposite end of the application image or thedisplay 112, such as shown in the examples of FIG. 18 through FIG. 25. Amore particular example of progressively revealing includes a sunriseeffect, where the application image is first displayed at the bottom ofthe display 118 and gradually revealed more and more in a directiontoward the top of the display 118 in a similar manner as a sunrise. Thearea or extent of the revealed image may be greater near the touch andtaper off toward one or more of the sides of the display, such as shownin FIG. 18 through FIG. 25. When the touch is at the center of thedisplay, the sunrise effect is centered across the display, such asshown in FIG. 18 through FIG. 23. When the touch is detected near a sideof the display, the sunrise effect is offset toward the touch location,and less of the application image is displayed near the opposite side ofthe display where the touch is detected, such as shown in FIG. 24 andFIG. 25. Another form of progressively revealing the application imagecomprises gradually revealing the application image beginning at apoint, such as the center of the display 118 or the first detected touchlocation, and gradually revealing more of the application image in atleast one direction away from the point, such as shown in FIG. 14, whichshows increasing in a circle or radially outwardly in all directionsfrom a point on the display 118. Progressively revealing includeschanging the cover image to the application image.

Progressively revealing the application image includes displaying moreof the application image along with movement of the gesture or as thegesture continues to be detected, while displaying less of the coverimage and/or the informational icons 304, 404. For example, the more thegesture moves, more area of the application image is displayed. Thus,the rate of movement of the gesture may affect the rate of progressivelydisplaying the application image or the rate of increases area in whichthe application image is displayed. For example, progressively revealingmay comprise gradually increasing a size of an area of the applicationimage that is displayed while gradually decreasing a size of an area ofthe cover image that is displayed. The number of informational icons304, 404 may also be reduced depending on how much of the applicationimage is revealed. Progressively revealing includes gradually reducingdisplay of the cover image while gradually increasing display of theapplication image. For example, the application image and the coverimage together may cover most or all of the available display area forthe display 112. Thus, as display of the application image increases bya first amount or area, the display of the cover image is reduced by thesame amount or area. The cover image may simply be discontinued, andappear to disappear or be “erased” from the display as the gesturecontinues. Alternatively, the area of the cover image may be reduced butthe image may be shrunk to fit in the area remaining for the coverimage. The available display area may include headers or footers of thedisplay or may exclude headers or footers of the display. Thus, theapplication image is progressively revealed along with movement of thegesture, e.g., as the touch location changes, while reducing display ofthe cover image. Alternatively, progressively revealing may includealtering the transparency or opacity of the images as the gesturecontinues. For example, the application image may begin as fullytransparent across the entire image when the gesture begins andgradually progress to being opaque across the entire image as thegesture progresses away from the initial gesture location, while thecover image may begin as fully opaque across the entire image when thegesture begins and gradually progress to being transparent or across theentire image as the gesture progresses away from the initial gesturelocation.

Optionally, when the gesture meets a predetermined threshold 1512, suchas detection for a period of time, a distance or length of the gesture,or reaching a location on the display, the application image is fullydisplayed and the cover image is no longer displayed. At any timedetection of the gesture ends before meeting the threshold at 1512,low-power condition is entered 1504 and display of the cover image isdiscontinued. This discontinuance of display of the cover image may beeffectively instantaneous or immediate or may quickly fade to black,e.g., in 100 to 500 ms or less. For example, a user may simply wish tocheck the time or the informational icons, and an end of the gesturereturns the device to low-power condition.

Another option includes progressively covering the application imageafter beginning to reveal the application image. For example, upondetection 1516 of a change in direction of the gesture, display of theapplication image may be progressively reduced or the application imageis progressively covered as the gesture continues in the new direction.The new direction may be, for example, opposite the previous directionof the gesture or in a direction toward the initial touch location ofthe gesture. Opposite may include any aspect of the gesture that is in adirection toward the original touch location of the gesture rather thanaway from the original touch location, such as any component toward theoriginal touch location or edge of the display versus a component awayfrom the original touch location or edge of the display. Progressivelycovering the application image includes displaying less of theapplication image and more of the cover image along with movement of thegesture. While the gesture continues in the new direction, the processcontinues by progressively covering the application image as the gesturecontinues to be detected. When the gesture changes direction again, theprocess continues at 1510, and when the application image is covered orthe gesture ends, the process continues at 1504. In a more specificexample, the gesture may comprise a touch beginning at the bottom of thedisplay 118 and moving toward the top of the display, followed by movingback toward the bottom of the display 118, such as when the user sees asmuch information as desired. In this situation, the application image isgradually revealed until the touch is detected moving back toward thebottom of the display 118, at which time the application image isprogressively covered 1518 until the gesture ends, e.g., detection ofthe gesture does not continue, at 1510; the gesture meets a gesturethreshold, such as returning to or near its beginning or initiationlocation, such as an edge of the touch-sensitive display 118, in whichcase the low-power condition is entered 1504; or the gesture changesdirection again to progressively reveal more of the application image,in which case the process continues at 1510. An end of the gesture maybe discontinuation of detection of touch data on the touch-sensitivedisplay 118, discontinuation of a recognizable 3D spatial gesture, orend of any other type of gesture. The gesture may be discontinued, forexample, when a user gathered the information the user is interested in,such as time, date, notifications, and so forth. An end of the gestureat 1510 returns the device 100 to the low-power or sleep condition.

Examples illustrating revealing an application image are shown in FIG.16 through FIG. 25. Some of the reference numerals are not repeated insubsequent figures for the sake of simplifying the drawings and makingthem easier to view. Although shown in portrait orientation, theseexamples may be implemented in landscape orientation. In this example, aunified inbox 1602 is displayed from a messaging application as shown inFIG. 16. While the application image is in the state shown in FIG. 16, atrigger to enter low-power condition is met. The electronic device 100enters the low-power condition, including placing the display112/touch-sensitive display 118 in a low-power condition, such as shownin FIG. 17. Typically, no information is displayed on the display 112during the low-power condition, including no display of a backgroundimage or other image. Optionally, a simple image such as the time or aclock may be displayed during low-power condition, although theremainder of the display is blank or black to reduce power. Thebacklight may operate at a reduced brightness level for an LCD or aminimal number of pixels may be illuminated for an OLED. The device 100may include a separate light emitting diode 1704 that may operate at anytime, including during low-power mode, to notify a user when a messageis received.

An input is detected during the low-power condition. In this example,the input is part of the gesture that begins at the touch location 1802shown in FIG. 18. In response to detecting the gesture, a cover image isdisplayed including a design 1806 and the time. Information icons 304including a battery level and signal level indicator are displayed aswell as a plurality of messaging icons 404. The icons 304, 404 may bedisplayed anywhere on the display 112. The messaging icons 404 mayinclude a symbol (top icon 404) or a number (bottom icon 404) indicatingunread messages related to application related to that icon.

The gesture continues, and at the touch location 1902 shown in FIG. 19,the application image 1602 is revealed from a first end of theapplication image or display 112. In this example, the application imageis revealed from an edge of the display nearest to the touch location1802 where the gesture began, which is the bottom of the display in thisexample. Thus, the gesture that brought the device out of the low-powercondition continues and reveals the application image. The border 1904between the application image 1602 and the cover image 1906 is shown asa dotted line in this example. The border may alternatively be a blendof the two images such as both images being semi-transparent, a specialeffect such as a halo, glow, or other effect, a solid line, and soforth. The border may be simple, where one image begins, the other imageends, e.g., nothing additional is displayed. The border may be thin,such as shown in FIG. 19, or thicker.

As the gesture continues to the touch location 2002 shown in FIG. 20,more of the application image is revealed. The reveal of the applicationimage may precede the current touch location, e.g., the applicationimage may be displayed or revealed a distance from the current touchlocation, for example, in the direction of the gesture. The distance maybe the same as the gesture continues along the display or may change thelonger the gesture persists. For example, the edge 1904 of the revealedapplication image in FIG. 19 is closer to the touch location 1902 thanthe edge 2004 of the revealed application image in FIG. 20 is to thetouch location 2002.

The gesture continues to the touch location 2102 shown in FIG. 21, wherea significant part of the application image is revealed. As the gesturecontinues in a first direction toward the top of the display or awayfrom the initial location 1802 of the gesture, more of the applicationimage is revealed along with movement of the gesture. Thus, when thegesture moves in the first direction, the application image isprogressively revealed from a first end of the application image ordisplay 112 toward a second end of the application image or display 112opposite the first end along with movement of the gesture. The first endof the application is nearest the initial touch location of the gesturein this example.

As shown in the examples, the application image extends across thedisplay 112 from a first edge of the display to second edge of thedisplay opposite the first edge. For example, the application image mayextend horizontally across the width of the display in either portraitorientation or landscape orientation. As the gesture continues towardthe top of the display, the application image is displayed across thedisplay, and the height or area of the application image increases.

A change in the direction of the gesture is detected, as shown in FIG.22, where the current location of the gesture is at the touch location2202 lower than the touch location 2102 of FIG. 21 earlier in thegesture. In the examples of FIG. 18 through 21, the gesture moves in afirst direction, and in FIG. 22, the gesture moves in a second directionopposite to the first direction. In response to movement of the gesturein this second direction, the application image is progressively coveredby displaying more of the cover image and less of the application image.In this example, as the gesture continues in a downward direction, moreof the cover image is displayed as less of the application image isdisplayed along with movement of the gesture. The application image iscovered with the cover image from the second end toward the first end asthe gesture moves in the second direction.

The gesture changes direction again, back to the first direction, asshown in FIG. 23, where the current location of the gesture is at thetouch location 2302 higher than the touch location 2202 of FIG. 22earlier in the gesture. The application image is revealed again as thegesture continues in the first direction. Thus, the application image isprogressively revealed as the gesture moves in the first direction, andthe application image is progressively covered by gradually displayingmore of the cover image as the gesture moves in a second directionopposite the first direction. When the gesture continues and meets athreshold, such as a duration of time, a length, or a location on thedisplay, such as a location 90-100% of the way to the opposite end ofthe display as the touch originated, the application image is fullydisplayed and the cover image is no longer displayed. Operation in theapplication may continue once the cover is no longer displayed. Theapplication may be considered to be running in a state while theapplication image is displayed prior to entering the low-powercondition, which state may be returned to later, such as after exitinglow-power condition. Operation of the application may continue from thestate when the gesture meets the threshold. When the gesture ends beforemeeting the threshold, neither the application image nor the cover imageare displayed, and the low-power condition is entered.

The examples shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 through FIG. 12,the progressive illumination occurs evenly across the display. In theexamples shown in FIG. 16 through FIG. 25, the application image isprogressively revealed unevenly across the display. When the touch is atthe center of the display, the image is centered across the display,such as shown in FIG. 18 through FIG. 23, where the application image isrevealed more in the center of the display than near the sides of thedisplay. When the touch is detected near a side of the display, theapplication image is revealed more in a manner offset toward the touchlocation, and less of the application image is displayed near theopposite side of the display where the touch is detected, such as shownin FIG. 24 and FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 24, the touch location 2402 istoward the left of the display, and the application image is revealedhigher nearest the touch on the left side while the application image isrevealed to a lower extent away from the touch location 2402 on theright side of the display. As shown in FIG. 25, the touch location 2502is toward the right of the display, and the application image isrevealed higher nearest the touch on the right side while theapplication image is revealed to a lower extent away from the touchlocation 2502 on the left side of the display. Thus, the applicationimage may be revealed unevenly across the display, where more of theapplication image is revealed near the current touch location than to aside of the current touch location. Progressive illumination mayalternatively occur unevenly across the display, and the applicationimage may be progressively revealed evenly across the display.

The various processes or features of the example described in FIG. 15through 25 may be applied to the other examples described in FIG. 2through FIG. 14, and vice versa. For example, an unlock option, such asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 13, may bedisplayed when the gesture continues for at least a predetermined periodof time or at least a predetermined distance. The unlock screen may bedisplayed until a password is successfully entered. The unlock screenmay be displayed after the cover image is no longer displayed, and theapplication image is fully displayed to prevent further disclosure ofinformation without password entry. Thus, a limited amount ofinformation may be revealed prior to the successful entry of a password.This limited amount of information may be, for example, non-confidentialinformation, such as phone numbers of missed calls, identities ofsenders of emails or text messages, upcoming meeting notices, time anddate, and so forth. Other information may be displayed, e.g., whensecurity is not an issue.

The illuminated areas 306, 406, 506, 606, 906, 1006, 1106, and 1206 inneed not be rectangles, and may be any suitable shape, for example,semi-circular, circular, elliptical, or other shape including complexshapes.

Optionally, contrast levels of the image being displayed may be variedin order to achieve the same or similar result as progressively varyingthe brightness of the display.

Although information, such as informational icons, keys, or an unlockoption, is shown displayed in particular locations in the example, theinformation may be displayed in any location on the display.

Although the method is advantageous for portable electronic devices dueto the limited display size on a portable electronic device, such as asmartphone, the method may be applied to other electronic devices thathave a larger display size.

The location of informational icons may be adjusted by the user. Forexample, the use may identify the quantity, order, or arrangement ofinformational icons to be displayed.

A method comprises, while a touch-sensitive display is in a low-powercondition, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display andidentifying any informational icons to be displayed. While the gesturecontinues to be detected, the touch-sensitive display is progressivelyilluminated while displaying the identified informational icons. Whenthe gesture comprises a touch at or near a single location on thedisplay, detecting continuation of the gesture may comprise continuallydetecting the touch. A portable electronic device may comprise thetouch-sensitive display.

A method comprises, while a portable electronic device is in a low-powercondition, detecting, by the portable electronic device, a gesture. Anyinformational icons to be displayed are identified. The identifiedinformational icons are displayed without fully illuminating a displayof the portable electronic device. Discontinuation of the gesture mayresult in a return to the low-power condition in which the display isnot illuminated. Displaying the identified informational icons maycomprise illuminating the informational icons without illuminating aremainder of the display, e.g., an area of the display where theinformational icons are not displayed.

Although the above examples illustrate various different features, thefeatures of any example may be utilized with any other example unlessthe features conflict. For example, features of FIG. 2 through 7 may beutilized in a landscape orientation, and features of FIG. 9 through 14may be utilized in a portrait orientation. Other features areinterchangeable but are too numerous to identify briefly.

The terms left, right, top, bottom, and so forth are utilized herein forpurpose of providing a perspective for reference but are not otherwiselimiting.

Advantages of the method include providing the ability for the user togain information from a device without requiring a full wake-up of thedevice at the normal brightness level of the device. Previously, when adevice was asleep or locked, a notification that a new communication wasreceived was viewable only after fully illuminating the display andawakening the device. When the user only wanted to check the time, theuser was required to fully illuminate or wake-up the device. In bothcases, fully awakening the device may be disadvantageous in terms ofpower consumption and time to access the desired information. In somesituations, fully illuminating the device may be undesirable. Forexample, in dark locations, light could disrupt the user or otherpeople, e.g., in a theatre, cinema, while in bed, and so forth. Agradual wake-up in these situations avoids unnecessary disruption, andpossibly reduces power consumption. Advantageously, power consumption ofan OLED display is reduced because a black OLED pixel consumesnegligible power compared to a white OLED pixel. Therefore, by reducingthe brightness levels and/or reducing the illuminated area of thedisplay reduces power consumption. A cover image may optionally bedisplayed, which cover image may comprise a very dark, e.g., navy blueor nearly black, image that covers the display while an applicationimage is gradually revealed.

Another advantage results from the reversible capability of this method.Either changing direction of the gesture or discontinuing the gestureresults in the device returning to the low power condition by dimmingthe display. This dimming is a particular benefit for users who onlywant to perform a quick check on their device, e.g., device conditionsand/or notifications, and who want to quickly return to the sleep statewithout requiring a time period to elapse. This capability is useful forusers who forget to lock their device, which may result in unintendedaction of the device, such as “pocket dialing.”

Furthermore, physical keys used to unlock devices are normally placed ontop, bottom, or along the sides of devices. When a user desires toutilize one hand to operate the device, pushing unlock buttons mayrequire a shift in grip or inability to operate the device with onehand. Many of the examples do not require a user to shift grip toproceed with operating the device.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore,indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: entering, by a portableelectronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an applicationimage on a display, wherein no information is displayed on the displayduring the low-power condition; while in the low-power condition,detecting an input; in response to detecting the input, displaying acover image; identifying any informational icons to be displayed,wherein an informational icon identifies at least one notification;displaying at least one of the informational icons with the cover image;along with movement of a detected gesture, progressively revealing theapplication image displayed immediately before entering the low-powercondition while reducing display of the cover image, wherein the gesturecontrols a size of an area where the application image is displayedwhile the gesture continues, wherein a border between the cover imageand the application image is curved such that more of the applicationimage is revealed near a current touch location than to a side of thecurrent touch location.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theapplication image extends across a first dimension of the display, andas the gesture continues along a second dimension of the display, anarea of display of the application image increases.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein progressively revealing comprises progressivelyrevealing the application image from a first end of the applicationimage toward a second end of the application image opposite the firstend as the gesture continues.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thefirst end extends across the display from a first edge of the display toa second edge of the display opposite the first side and the second endextends across the display from the first edge to the second edge. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the gesture begins near the first end. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the application image is progressivelyrevealed as the gesture moves in a first direction, and the applicationimage is progressively covered by gradually displaying more of the coverimage as the gesture moves in a second direction opposite the firstdirection.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting achange in direction of the gesture and progressively covering theapplication image along with movement of the gesture.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising, when the gesture meets a threshold,discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-powercondition.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively revealingcomprises gradually increasing a size of an area of the applicationimage that is displayed while gradually decreasing a size of an area ofthe cover image that is displayed.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising, when the gesture meets a threshold, displaying theapplication image and discontinuing display of the cover image.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein an application is running in a state when thelow-power condition is entered, further comprising continuing operationof the application at the state when the gesture meets a threshold. 12.The method of claim 1, when the gesture ends before meeting a threshold,discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-powercondition.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying oneor more informational icons and displaying the informational icons aspart of the cover image when the cover image is displayed.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the application image is revealed across onedimension of the display.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the inputis part of the gesture.
 16. An electronic device comprising a hardwareprocessor configured to perform the method of claim
 1. 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the informational icons comprise at least onenotification to be displayed and wherein more or less of theinformational icons are displayed along with movement of the gesture.18. A method comprising: after displaying an application image on adisplay, entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-powercondition, wherein the display is not illuminated; while in thelow-power condition, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;in response to detecting the gesture: identifying any informationalicons to be displayed, wherein an informational icon identifies at leastone notification; displaying at least one of the informational iconswith a cover image; while the gesture continues: when the gesture movesin a first direction, progressively revealing, along with movement ofthe gesture, the application image from a first end of the applicationimage toward a second end of the application image opposite the firstend; when the gesture moves in a second direction, progressivelycovering, along with movement of the gesture, the application image withthe cover image from the second end toward the first end; wherein theapplication image extends across a width of the touch-sensitive display,and wherein a border between the cover image and the application imageis curved such that more of the application image is revealed near acurrent touch location than to a side of the current touch location. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein progressively covering the applicationimage comprises displaying less of the application image and more of thecover image and the informational icons.
 20. The method of claim 18,wherein progressively revealing comprising gradually reducing display ofthe cover image and the informational icons while gradually increasingdisplay of the application image.
 21. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising, when the gesture meets a threshold while moving in thesecond direction, discontinuing display of the cover image and returningto the low-power condition.
 22. A method comprising: entering, by aportable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying anapplication image on a display, wherein the display is not illuminated;while in the low-power condition, detecting a gesture; in response todetecting the gesture, identifying any informational icons to bedisplayed and displaying a cover image and at least one of theinformational icons, wherein an informational icon identifies at leastone notification while the application image is not displayed; inresponse to detecting continuation of the gesture: along with movementof the gesture in a first direction, progressively revealing theapplication image while progressively reducing display of the coverimage, wherein progressively revealing the application image comprisesgradually increasing a display area of the application image andprogressively reducing display of the cover image comprises graduallydecreasing a display area of the cover image; along with movement of thegesture in a second direction, progressively revealing the cover imagewhile progressively reducing display of the application image, whereinprogressively revealing the cover image comprises gradually increasing adisplay area of the cover image and progressively reducing display ofthe application image comprises gradually decreasing a display area ofthe application image; when the gesture meets a threshold while movingin the second direction, discontinuing display of the cover image andreturning to the low-power condition, wherein a border between the coverimage and the application image is curved such that more of theapplication image is revealed near a current touch location than to aside of the current touch location.
 23. The method of claim 22, whereinthe at least one of the informational icons indicates notice of one of areceived email, a missed phone call, and a text message.
 24. The methodof claim 22, wherein more or less of the informational icons aredisplayed along with movement of the gesture.
 25. The method of claim22, wherein a border between the cover image and the application imageis curved.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein the application imageextends across a width of the display.